Profound Moments

Every once in a while you have to mark a moment that is profound. This last week was just one of the times. For those of you who know me, I love the San Jose Sharks in the NHL. I watch about sixty games a year on tv and try to catch at least three games a year in person.

But the reality is that hockey is an East Coast/Canada thing. Getting press on ESPN is next to impossible. Unless you're Detroit, New Jersey, Boston, or any Canada team, good luck getting some love.

About five years ago, ESPN started listing power rankings for teams in the NHL. The Sharks, no matter how good they were were usually about six to ten spots below what they should have been. Last year for example, the Sharks had the best record post the Thornton trade. Yet they got no love, finding themselves no better than 12 before the guys running the rankings forgot to post anymore with three weeks to go.

Well this week the Sharks found themselves at the top of the list. WOW! Thanks ESPN

Zags Come Up Big Time

My beloved Zags pull a huge upset over #2 ranked North Carolina, scoring big time and showing the world that they are for real...AGAIN.

What I Am Thankful For

This morning I'm in my pajamas watching the Macy's Day parade with my children, sipping coffee, and doing nothing. It is not hard for me to be aware of my blessings. I am grateful for my Father's hand in my life. I sense his peace in my life in a really great way. I am thankful for my family, and all of the cliche things people usually say. But a cliche is a cliche because it it said so many times. My family is healthy. A good friend of mine just watched his daughter go through Cancer. I hope I never have to go through that. I am thankful that I have work. My new career with Thrive Ministries is something I wake up to and want to do. I am grateful that I have been given opportunity, and hope to make a better world possible for my children and those in the world. I am thankful that I have discovered faith and hope and love. I am thankful that my eyes have been opened to a world needing these things. I am thankful that I have been given an opportunity to love my neighbor.

Blessings to you all on this Thanksgiving.

The Bracelet

Yesterday I was in line to get a cup of coffee and I saw a man with a bunch of rubber bracelets. You know the kind Lance Armstrong started with his Livestrong campaign. I thought Livestrong was a brilliant idea. Then everyone had them. They were everywhere, which is simply a testimony to how great the idea was.

I even got one. It said "courage" on it. I actually got it from Taco Bell for 25 cents from a vending machine. My son, who is four always gets two quarters when we go to Taco Bell and he didn't have a clue what it was. He just knew it wasn't the Ninja guy he wanted. So he gave it to me. I wore it for a while because I like what it meant. I liked being reminded of the idea of courage. Unfortunately it was cheap (what do you expect for a quarter) and broke after about a month. I threw it away and didn't think about it for a while.

And then a good friend of mine gave me a ONE bracelet. I believe in the One Campaign and what they are doing for social justice and fighting poverty. The ONE bracelets are made really well and they are white. I put it on and that was that.

So yesterday when I saw this guy in line I began to think of why I wear the bracelet. It has now been over 9 months that I've had it on and I have thought about the question before. Did I wear it because I wanted to make people aware of ONE.org? Yeah, a little. Did I wear it because it makes a cool statement about who I am? Not really. Did I wear it because it looks cool and everyone is doing it? No.

I wear it because it reminds me that we are part of the human race. We are God's creation first, connected together. I am called to love and be loved in community. The bracelet reminds me of that. It reminds me to remember those less fortunate than myself. It reminds me to love my neighbor and to be part of the solution.

That's why I wear the bracelet.